Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar
Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar | |
---|---|
Personal | |
Born | 7th century CE |
Religion | Hinduism |
Organization | |
Philosophy | Shaivism, Bhakti |
Honors | Nayanar saint |
Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the sixty-first in the list of 63 Nayanars.[1] While the first part of his name can be spelt as Tirunilakanta, Tirunilakantha, Tiru Neelakanta, Tiru Nilakanta, Nilakantan and Thiruneelakanda, Yazhpanar is spelt as variously as Yalppanar, Yalapannar, Yalpanar and Yazhpaanar. He is described as a companion of Sambandar (first half of the 7th century CE), one of the most prominent Nayanars.
Life
The life of Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar is described in the
Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar was born in Erukattanpuliyur in the
Once, Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar reached
Yazhpanar went to Thiruvarur and played the yazh outside the Thyagaraja Temple there. Thyagaraja, the presiding form of Shiva at Thiruvarur invited him in through the northern entrance, which the god opened for him. The Nayanar entered and played the yazh for Shiva.[3][4]
Yazhpanar continued his journeys and visited many shrines. He finally reached Sirkazhi, home of the Sattainathar Temple and met the young Sambandar. The child saint requested Yazhpanar to play the yazh; the sonorous music won Sambanar's favour. Impressed by Sambandar's devotion, Yazhpanar asked him permission to accompany him and set tune to Sambadar's hymns to Shiva. Sambandar consented. Yazhpanar and his wife Mandangasulamani (described as virali or songstress) accompanied the young saint on his travels. The couple sang Sambandar's hymns and Yazhpanar composed music for the hymns on his yazh.[3][5]
Sambanar and Yazhpanar once travelled to the
At Dharmapuram, the duo went to meet Yazhpanar's mother. The people of Dharmapuram praised Yazhpanar's music, but Yazhpanar credited Sambandar's hymns. Ultimately, Sambandar composed an hymn devoted to Shiva's son Ganesha, which Yazhpanar could not play on the yazh to his satisfaction. The frustrated yazh player decided to break his yazh, but was stopped by the lyricist, who said the musical composition was good enough and Yazhpanar should be content with it.[3]
Yazhpanar accompanied Sambanar on his journeys and meetings with other Nayanars like
After a while, Sambandar invited Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar to his wedding in Thirumana Nallur (presently known as Achalpuram). After the wedding, Sambandar, his bride and the wedding party went the Shivaloka Thyagar temple of Shiva, in Thirumana Nallur. Sambandar prayed to Shiva, seeking salvation. Shiva appeared as a blazing flame and granted his wish. Then Sambandar, his bride and all the wedding guests, including Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar merged in the Light of Shiva.[3][6]
Remembrance
One of the most prominent Nayanars, Sundarar (8th century) venerates Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar in the Tiruthonda Thogai, a hymn to Nayanar saints, calling him the Tirunilakantan, the Panar player of the yazh.[7]
Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar is worshipped in the
Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar was the first to set music to the songs of a Nayanar and set a "precedent for musical performance of the Tevaram hymns". The Tevaram by Nambiyandar Nambi (11th century) compiles the hymns of Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar. However, the music of the Tevaram was lost, until Nambiyandar Nambi reached Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar's home-town to recover it. A Panar woman is said to have revealed it to him, which she got to know by a "divine revelation".[8]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
- ^ "The Puranam of Tiruneelakanta Yaazhppana Nayanar". T N Ramachandran. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ Swami Sivananda(1999). Sixty-three Nayanar Saints (4 ed.). Sivanandanagar: The Divine Life Society.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-208-1391-5.
- ^ K. Nambi Arooran (1977). Glimpses of Tamil Culture: Based on Periyapuranam. Koodal Publishers. pp. 77, 120.
- ^ "Sri Shivaloka Thyagar temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ISBN 978-81-208-0784-6.
- ISBN 0-253-11419-5.